Japan
BOJ punishes 41 staff after expenses probe
The Bank of Japan said Friday 4 August it would punish 41 officials for either receiving or paying higher than necessary allowances for air travel in the seven years from 1999.
IMF's Rato says Japan's deflation almost over
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said Thursday 3 August that "deflation has, by most measures, ended" in Japan.
Report says BOJ expenses overcharged
Bank of Japan employees allegedly padded travel costs by 100 million yen (US$870,000; euro680,000), Kyodo News agency reported.
BoJ will raise rates at slow pace
Bank of Japan policy board member Atsushi Mizuno said Wednesday 2 August that the central bank will raise short-term interest rates at a "slow" pace while cautiously watching economic and price situations.
Comment: Developments in July
Here is a quick look back at development affecting central bank in month of July.
Japan - Effects of the quantitative easing policy
The Bank of Japan Working Paper "Effects of the quantitative easing policy: A survey of empirical analyses" surveys the empirical analyses that examine the effects of the Bank of Japan (BOJ)'s quantitative easing policy (QEP).
BoJ 'very careful' about drastic rate hike-Yosano
Japan's Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano said Thursday 27 July the Bank of Japan is "very careful" about implementing credit tightening too drastically.
BoJ's Suda sees 'gradual' rate rises
Bank of Japan policy board member Miyako Suda repeated Wednesday 26 July the central bank's view that future rate increases would be 'gradual' if the economy continues to show sustained growth.
BOJ strengthens internal regulations
The Bank of Japan's board approved internal rules on Friday 21 July that ban its leadership from engaging in most types of transaction.
Muto says BOJ will take its time with rate rises
Bank of Japan deputy governor Toshiro Muto said Friday 21 July the central bank will take its time with future interest rate increases, and the current accommodative conditions are likely to stay for now.
Some BOJ members wanted 0.5% hike - report says
Jiji Press reported on Friday 21 July that three Bank of Japan Policy Board members sought a steeper increase in the official discount rate at the central bank's meeting last week.
Minutes show BOJ waited to monitor markets
Minutes released on Thursday 20 July showed the Bank of Japan put off raising interest rates from zero at a board meeting in June because it wanted to monitor factors such as global markets and the U.S. economy.
OECD urges caution on BOJ rate moves
The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development warned on Thursday 20 July that the Bank of Japan should not rush further interest rate increases while there is a risk of slipping back into deflation.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, July 2006
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its July 2006 monthly report on Wednesday 19 July. In the report the BOJ upgraded its wording on the assessment of the nation's economy describing it as "expanding moderately."
Upset about death of Fed watching? Come to Asia
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Wednesday 19 July, the Federal Reserve has so comprehensively demystified what it does, that anyone can become a Fed watcher.
Fukui on developments in Japan's economy
In a speech given on 16 June (published 18 July) Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said looking forward, exports are expected to continue rising against the background of further expansion of overseas economies.
Yosano says Fukui's investment a 'social' issue
Japanese economic and fiscal policy minister Kaoru Yosano said Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui's investment in a fund operated by Yoshiaki Murakami, is a "social issue."
BOJ raises rates, Fukui staying put
The Bank of Japan on Friday 14 July ended its five-year-old policy of keeping interest rates near zero, saying that the nation has emerged from deflation and overcome the long economic slump.
Comment: A new era for the BoJ
As expected the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time since March 2001 at its monetary policy meeting on 14 July. The decision to end the zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) with a 25 basis point hike in the overnight rate was unanimous one.
IMF says BOJ hike welcome news
A senior IMF official on Friday 14 July welcomed the decision by the Bank of Japan to end the era of zero interest rates.
More Greenspan, less Volcker, needed in Japan
This article published Wednesday 12 July by Bloomberg says that the Bank of Japan may engineer its first interest rate increase since August 2000 on Friday.
Interview with the Japanese Finance Minister
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday 12 July there was no need for the Bank of Japan to rush the ending of its zero interest rate policy.
British pound passes yen in central bank reserves
According to this article by Bloomberg News published Monday 10 July, central banks around the world are increasing their holdings of British pounds.
Japan ruling party backs ending BoJ rate policy
The Bank of Japan has received clear backing from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on its plans to end the current zero interest rate policy.